In order for a projectile to impact any distant target, the barrel must be inclined to a positive elevation angle relative to the target. This is due to the fact that the projectile will begin to respond to the effects of gravity the instant it is free from the mechanical constraints of the bore. Thus, a bullet fired with a zero elevation angle can never impact a target higher than or at the same elevation as the center axis of the bore. The imaginary line down the center axis of the bore and out to infinity is called the line of departure and is the line on which the bullet leaves the barrel. As the bullet travels downrange, it arcs below the line of departure as it is being deflected off its initial path by gravity.

For hitting a distant target an appropriate positive elevation angle is required that is achieved by angling the line of sight from the shooter’s eye through the centerline of the sighting system downward toward the line of departure. This can be accomplished by simply adjusting the sights down mechanically, or by securing the entire sighting system to a sloped mounting having a known downward slope, or by a combination of both. This procedure has the effect of elevating the muzzle when the barrel must be subsequently raised to align the sights with the target. A bullet leaving a muzzle at a given elevation angle follows a ballistic trajectory whose characteristics are dependent upon various factors such as muzzle velocity, gravity, and aerodynamic drag. This ballistic trajectory is referred to as the bullet path.

Bullet path is of great use to shooters because it allows them to establish ballistic tables that will predict how much elevation correction must be applied to the sight line for shots at various known distances.

Over the weekend Silvercore hosted its Handgun Level 3 course at the Justice Institute of British Columbia range facility. The course is designed to increase awareness of advanced defensive shooting concepts to the armed professional and civilian alike.

Some of the topics covered include tactics and deployment of the pistol from concealed carry positions, shooting from positions of disadvantage such as sitting/supine, shooting from a seated position in a chair or car and a large portion of the class is dedicated to defensive use of cover slow methodical structure clearing and dynamic room entry techniques. The US Federal Air Marshal’s course of fire is challenged to give us a standard to work towards and achieve and we modify other competitive drills to increase their applicability to the defensive shooting world by adding multiple targets, grounded targets and targets facing at oblique angles.

Mindset plays a large part in the defensive shooting world. The students are always challenged and reminded throughout the course to continually be aware of their surroundings and maintain a combative frame of mind. Through movement, scanning and positioning/seeking cover this mindset can be re-enforced. The students are also challenged with “wounded shooter drills” to practice their skills while employing the use of only their dominant or non-dominant hand; even malfunctions. On day 2 there is also a large component of low-light shooting/flashlight work with different lighting conditions in the range allowing for advanced target recognition drills and structure clearing scenarios that can’t be done at an outdoor range facility – giving our course a distinct advantage for those who operate in urban environments with less than ideal lighting conditions.

Last week Silvercore instructors had the opportunity to participate in a shotgun instructor development training course at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. Topics covered a variety of shotgun related subject matter and shooting skill-sets. The emphasis was on both the tactical use of the defensive shotgun in context for the Use of Force training program that we offer and in a wildlife defensive context offered in our Bear Defence training programs.

Silvercore maintains a high standard for its instructor’s skills and values its position as the industry leader in public firearms training in Canada. The instructor development program we offer continues to ensure that our instructors stay current and fresh in their ability to deliver quality, detailed instruction to both our corporate and public clients.

Our live-fire program continues to grow in both numbers of existing courses and expanding into different firearms-related avenues. This expansion necessitates that instructors are well rounded and experienced in all aspects of firearms and related training from the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC/CRFSC), handguns, shotguns, rifles, Use of Force and combatives.

Things have been busy in the last few weeks here at Silvercore. Our ammo contest is in full swing and if you want to get in on it now’s the time! You can win 1000 rounds of 9mm one of two ways: Simply “like” us on Facebook and / or our Google Plus page and include a written review. Once you have submitted your review email us at info@silvercore.ca with a link to that review. You will be entitled to one contest entry for the Facebook review and one contest entry for the Google Plus review. When our Facebook page reaches 1250 likes we will draw the prize and announce the winner. There’s still some time left before we reach the magic number – but not much!

We also recently completed a stretch of two back to back Handgun 1 courses last week; on Thursday/Friday and Saturday/Sunday. Both were full and the students did a fantastic job. We had a lot of fun and everyone shot well over both courses. Handgun 1 is our introductory handgun shooting course that guides the student through the fundamentals of handgun shooting, principles of marksmanship and gives the student a sound, solid platform to work from in order to practice and improve their skills over time. We also tackle cleaning, maintenance and several legal concepts in relation to restricted firearms.

Silvercore continually strives to maintain our position as the industry leader in firearms training and personal safety in Canada to both the public and corporate markets.